Shoshaman: A Tale of Corporate Japan (Voices from Asia)

Voices from Asia

by Shinya Arai, Chieko Mulhern (Translator)

Acknowledging no god but the corporate good, the shoshamen―high-powered professionals within Japan's integrated trading companies―serve as the unrelenting cogs of an economic machine. Or do they?

Shoshaman takes us inside the world of Japan Inc. to explore the daily lives of the people who inhabit it. Written by a senior executive in a major sogo shosha, this absorbing novel reveals, as no textbook can, the strategies required to win the race to the top. It also makes painfully clear the ethical and psychological choices that such a race demands. The cast of characters is as varied as the corporate world itself, from the devoted Ojima, who has been passed over by the company, to the spirited Masako, who strikes out on her own. The hero, Nakasato Michio, finds that the road to success is long and perilous, as he tries to satisfy his ambitions while remaining faithful to his values.

First published as Kigyoka sarariman in 1986 and made into a prize-winning television miniseries in 1988, the book has been acclaimed in Japan for the verisimilitude of its characters and situations. It offers a clear understanding of what it is like―in human terms―to survive and perhaps succeed within the confines of the Japanese corporation.

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Contemporary

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Tenma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This elegant novel was written by Shinya Arai who also wrote “Supermarket” using the pen name Satoshi Azuchi. In “Shoshaman”, Mr. Arai talks in an autobiographical tone about a salaryman who was torn between his loyalty and commitment to his day to day job and his entrepreneurial spirit. The main character is a corporate “yes” man, a “shoshaman”, who rose in the managerial ranks of a major trading company in Japan. During his early career he meets and falls in love with a strong-willed subordinate who instills in him entrepreneurial spirit. Fifteen years later, this short-lived affair comes back to haunt him as he contemplates a decision that could have significant ramifications on his future career with his employer and on his personal life.

Anyone contemplating a career change will enjoy this novel and will find it very insightful and inspiring. It also portrays, very realistically, the hierarchy in corporate Japan and the Japanese work culture during the 80’s. After all, this novel was written by Mr. Arai, who himself was a “Shoshaman” who rose over the years in the ranks of corporate Japan. Although the main themes of this novel are serious, Mr. Arai succeeded to elegantly narrate the love affair between the main character and his mistress. While it occupies a small part of the novel, this affectionate and beautiful love story is very touchy and memorable. Having said that, readers who seek melodramatic events might be disappointed. For some, this novel may seem dry. And at times it reads like a self-improvement book using fictionalized events akin to “Who moved my cheese”.

I wish there were more Japanese "business novels" that have been translated into English. Please leave a comment if you know of any such novel that has been or is planned to be translated soon ....

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

een enorme niche maar een fantastische kijkje in de keuken van de overwerkte sarariman in een absurd monolithische hiërarchie; autobiografictie/roman à clef

Nawoord:
"But in the end they beat their usual path to the drinking holes, where they mourn the death of their short-lived dreams and pour out their hearts in criticism of their immediate superiors."

Favoriete citaat:
"Every man [should be pitied] who is under the delusion that he made the greatest accomplishment in the world by simply being ahead of his peers in the promotion race. Each one who buckles un der to authority and dances to the tune of his superiors just to survive"

[Michael Ikeya · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining look inside the big corporate structure of Japanese business thru the eyes of one of the chosen - on the path to executive. I particularly enjoyed the little things described that I remember from my time there. Pouring beer or sake for the other people with you and not your own. Someone would inevitably keep yours filled,’too. The different levels used with people’s names, ie -san; -sama; -kun; -chan; etc. The significance put on the Senpai/Kohai relationship - such a powerful way to maintain control of the people.

Supposedly there is an entire genre of this type of book in Japanese fiction… which may be worth a visit as overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read (as evidenced by how quickly I finished it).

[Christopher Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the average reader, it probably will seem pretty boring. But as a novel about (and for) sarariman it is actually quite interesting. If you like japanese culture, and have a mind for business it's definietly a good read

[Will E · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'd think this would be boring but it surprisingly wasn't.